State Rep. Bill Zedler Wants to Shut Down Those Grody LGBT Centers at Texas Colleges

The LGBT Resource Center at Texas A&M University, like its cousins at the University of Texas and the University of Houston, is an innocuous arm of school bureaucracy that offers an array of resources to gay and transgendered students. There is a guest speaker program, a lending library, networking opportunities, LGBT awareness events, information on counseling, connections to advocacy groups both on- and off-campus. Like we said: innocuous.

But State Rep. Bill Zedler, the Arlington Republican, seems to think these organizations are more akin to San Francisco bathhouses circa 1980. As the Voice noted yesterday, Zedler filed an amendment to the Senate budget that would cut funding for "Gender and Sexuality Centers and Related Student Centers."

He goes on to explain his reasoning: such centers "support, promote or encourage any behavior that would lead to high risk behavior for AIDS, HIV, Hepatitis B, or any sexually transmitted disease."

"This amendment has no public health value," Cox writes. "It does not reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS or any other sexually transmitted disease. It exists for one reason and one reason only: to target college student resource centers simply because the centers provide services to the LGBT community."

Zedler, if he would ever return our calls, would likely argue that rates of HIV and other STDs are disproportionately high among gay men. The CDC says as much. But the CDC also says that infection in gay individuals, just as in straight ones, can be prevented through safe sexual practices and avoidance of drugs, suggesting that the type of education and support provided by campus LGBT resource centers might actually help reduce infection rates. Further undermining Zedler's argument, the agency notes that "homophobia, stigma, and discrimination" elevate the risk of physical and mental health problems.

But Zedler's never been one to let facts or reason get in the way of a ridiculous legislative idea. He's just not very good at getting his fellow lawmakers to sign on. For the sake of gay and transgendered college kids, here's hoping that doesn't change.

As a taxpayer, I don't want to fund any "on or off"campus social, religious, or other similar organization. If you want it, fund it yourself. Zedler is perfectly correct in this matter. (I wouldn't return your nutty non-constituent calls either.)

LGBT obviously face different diversity than straight students. While it SHOULD be equal and everyone should have the same trauma in college that's simply not the case OR the reason he wants them shut down!
... "He goes on to explain his reasoning: such centers "support, promote or encourage any behavior that would lead to high risk behavior for AIDS, HIV, Hepatitis B, or any sexually transmitted disease." "
obviously this statement is made out of ignorance and falsities!

So what's it going to be, Texas? I call to the educated, the open-minded, the people who can make this state great. Are we going to sit back and let our government be selected by only the idiots, the uneducated, the racists? Are we going to continue to fill our legislature and governor's office with the likes of Zedler of whom we read these ridiculous statements and policies on a daily basis? Are we going to pull up stakes and be run out of Texas as Jews were run out of 30's Germany? Or are we going to get off our asses and start working for reasonable candidates at election time? I'll admit I am the laziest of the lazy-asses. But I'm motivated, I'm going to get to work!

My favorite line.....if he would ever return phone calls.........Bigoted extremist can only play softball when it comes to the media. Fox & The 700 Club will not challenge him. Nor will any local TV news. Texas is one of those states where there is still an upside to bigotry.

He goes on to explain his reasoning: such centers "support, promote or encourage any behavior that would lead to high risk
behavior for AIDS, HIV, Hepatitis B, or any sexually transmitted
disease." That's college, you redneck, bigot!